AfriChild Centre
AfriChild Centre · Kampala

AfriChild Centre · Est. 2013 · Kampala

Empowering
Africa's
Children.

Through research, advocacy, and relentless belief — we build futures one child at a time, across Uganda and the continent.

Explore Our Work 2024 Impact Report ↓
50K+
Children
120+
Publications
12+
Years
Two young African children learning together — AfriChild Centre programmes
African child engaged in learning activity
Knowledge Hub
120+ Free Research Papers
Visit Hub →
UNICEF ✦ MAKERERE UNIVERSITY ✦ CHILDFUND INTERNATIONAL ✦ COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ✦ IRC ✦ TPO UGANDA ✦ MGLSD UGANDA ✦ UNICEF ✦ MAKERERE UNIVERSITY ✦ CHILDFUND INTERNATIONAL ✦ COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ✦ IRC ✦ TPO UGANDA ✦ MGLSD UGANDA
0
Years of Excellence
0
Children Impacted
0
Research Publications
0
Thematic Focus Areas
Young African children in a joyful learning moment — AfriChild Centre empowerment programmes African child focused on writing — AfriChild Centre education programmes
12+
Years of
Impact

Our About Us

We are a Centre of Excellence in the study of the African child

The AfriChild Centre is a multi-disciplinary research institution dedicated to improving the lives of children across Africa. Established in 2013, the centre focuses on generating high-quality research to inform policy and practice related to child welfare, protection, education, and health.

The centre collaborates with various partners, including Makerere University, the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development in Uganda, ChildFund International, UNICEF, and other esteemed organisations.

All About Children

Empowering Africa's children through research, advocacy, and community engagement.
Generating evidence that informs policy and transforms the lives of Africa's most vulnerable children.
Building partnerships across Uganda, East Africa, and internationally to strengthen child welfare systems.
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The Work We Do

Empowering Futures,
One Child at a Time

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Kulea Watoto Project — AfriChild early childhood development research in Uganda
ECD Research

Kulea Watoto Project

The AfriChild Centre serves as the research and learning partner for a consortium of five organisations working to improve early childhood development outcomes across Uganda. The project focuses on generating evidence about ECD service quality, parenting interventions, and child-level outcomes for children aged 0–8 years.

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PPURE Programme — policy training and evidence use for child welfare
Capacity Building

PPURE Programme

Initiated in 2018 to train policymakers and practitioners in the use of evidence for child welfare decisions across Uganda and East Africa.

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AfriChild Speaker Series — child welfare advocacy and knowledge exchange events
Advocacy

Speaker Series

An initiative by AfriChild to strengthen child welfare dialogue through expert-led knowledge exchange sessions for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.

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Inter-University Programme — building child research capacity across Uganda universities
Partnerships

Inter-University Programme

A collaborative effort to advance child-focused research across Ugandan universities, building the next generation of child welfare researchers and practitioners.

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Assessing STRYIDE — UNICEF youth economic empowerment evaluation
UNICEF

Assessing STRYIDE

UNICEF and UNCDF's youth economic empowerment programme — AfriChild leads the independent evaluation of its impact on adolescents across Uganda.

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Ubumwe 2.0 Project — US-Uganda creative collaboration on child development
Creative Research

Ubumwe 2.0 Project

Researchers, educators, and artists from the US and Uganda working together through creative methods to advance child development and wellbeing outcomes.

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Impact in Data

Where Statistics Become Stories

Every number represents a child. Every percentage is someone's life.

ECD Access Gap · Uganda

3.86M CHILDREN 83.6% 16.4%
Children 3–5 Lacking ECD Access
Children aged 3–5 without access to quality Early Childhood Development services in Uganda.
Source: Uganda National ECD Assessment, 2023

Child Marriage · Karamoja

Kotido
Moroto
Nakapiripirit
Abim
50%
Child Marriage Rate
Child marriage rate in Uganda's Karamoja sub-region — among the highest nationally.
Source: Uganda DHS, 2022

Research Impact · 2013–2025

12 YRS
120+
Publications
6
Themes
12+
Partners
Twelve Years of Child Research
From ECD to child protection — AfriChild's research reaches policy tables and improves children's lives.
Source: AfriChild Annual Report, 2024
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News, Events & Articles

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Bridging Research, Policy and Practice — AfriChild 2025 symposium
Latest 30 Jun 2025

Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice: AfriChild's 2025 Symposium

AfriChild convened researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to translate evidence into action for Uganda's most vulnerable children — a landmark event in child rights advocacy.

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AfriChild 2025 Newsletter
13 May 2025 Newsletter
2025 Newsletters — Research Updates & Field Notes
Compiled research findings, field updates, and advocacy wins from the first half of 2025.
 Graduate intern at AfriChild Centre
03 Mar 2025 Insight
Reflections on My Transformative Internship at AfriChild
Personal insights from a graduate intern on bridging research theory and field practice.
 ECD programme in Kyaka II refugee settlement Uganda
30 Oct 2024 Research
Strengthening ECD in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement
New Kulea Watoto findings on improving ECD service delivery for refugee children in western Uganda.

Knowledge Hub

Six Thematic Pillars.
One Mission.

Africa's most comprehensive child-focused research library — free to access.

Care & Protection
Nurture, shield, empower, sustain — ensuring every child is safe from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
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Education & Development
ECD services and support for all children 0–8 years, building foundations for lifelong learning and growth.
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Participation
Child rights and governance mechanisms — amplifying children's voices in decisions that shape their lives.
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Policy & Regulations
Global strategies for children's rights — translating research into legislation and sustainable practice change.
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Survival & Health
Safeguard young lives holistically — maternal health, nutrition, immunisation, and child mental wellbeing.
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Systems Strengthening
Building holistic integrated systems for child welfare — from community level to national policy implementation.
Explore Library

Over 120 publications, policy briefs, and reports — all free to access at hub.africhild.cloud

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FAQ

Common Questions About AfriChild

Everything you need to know about our mission, work, and how we create impact for Africa's children.

AfriChild Centre field work in Uganda AfriChild research and training event
Learn More About Us
What is the mission of AfriChild Centre? +
The mission of AfriChild Centre is to generate research that informs policy and practice for the well-being of children across Africa. The Centre aims to be a leading force in promoting child welfare through rigorous research, capacity building, and impactful advocacy.
Which institutions are partnered with AfriChild? +
AfriChild collaborates with Makerere University, the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development in Uganda, ChildFund International Uganda, Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) Uganda, the Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network at Columbia University, and UNICEF Uganda.
How does AfriChild contribute to policy and practice? +
AfriChild generates high-quality research and translates it into actionable strategies to influence policy and practice. The Centre's work ensures that child-focused policies and programmes are based on reliable evidence, improving the welfare and protection of children across Africa.
What are the core areas of engagement? +
The core areas of engagement include research, capacity building, advocacy, partnerships, and technical support. These ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges faced by children — from ECD and education to child protection, health, and policy systems.
How can I access AfriChild's research publications? +
All AfriChild research publications, policy briefs, and reports are freely accessible via the Knowledge Hub at hub.africhild.cloud. The hub organises content across six thematic shelves covering every aspect of child welfare.

Trusted Partners

Collaborating for Africa's Children

UNICEF
United Nations Children's Fund
Makerere
University
ChildFund
International
Columbia
University
IRC
International Rescue Committee
TPO Uganda
Transcultural Psychosocial Org
MGLSD
Ministry of Gender Uganda
UNCDF
UN Capital Development Fund

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Partner With Us

Together, We Build Better Futures for Africa's Children

Whether you're a researcher, funder, or policy champion — AfriChild wants to work with you to create lasting change.

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